Lumber-delivering machine.



No. 657,666. Patented Sept. Il, |900. J. C. MELBY. LUMBER DELIVERINGMACHINE.

{Application filed May 7, 1900.)

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No. 657,666. Patented Sept. Il, |900.

v J. C. MELBY.

LUMBER DELIVERING MACHINE. f .Application filed may 7, 1900.)

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vPatented Sept. Il, |900.

J. C. MELBY. LUMBER DELIVERING MACHINE. (Appl catlon filed. May 7 1900(N0 Windel.)

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Jah zal@ 6% III irren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. MELBY, OF RED OLIFF, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-ElGI-ITH TOJAMES T. VATSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

LUMBER-DELIVERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,666, datedSeptember 11, 1900. Application filed May 7,1900. Serial No. 15,788. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern,.- chine. Fig. 2 represents a top plan Viewof Be it known that I, JOHN O. MELBY, a citithe same. Fig. 3 is across-section through zen of the United States, residing at Red Cliff,the said machine looking toward the disin the county of Bayfield andState of Wisconcharge end thereof. Fig. 4. is a detail View 55 5sin,have invented certain new and useful Imof one of the shafts fortilting the gripping- .t

proveniente in Lumber-Delivering Machines; rollers. Fig. 5 is a detailsectional View and I do hereby declare the following to be a through oneof the slides which carries one of full, clear, and exact description ofthe inventhe gripping-rolls and a portion of the frame tion, such aswill enable others skilled in the supporting the same. Fig. 6 is adetail view, 6o Io art to which it appertains to make and use the uponan enlarged scale, illustrating the mansame. ner of communicating arevoluble motion to My invention relates to improvements in one of thegripping-rolls. machines for directing lumber into the rolls My improvedlumber-handling machine is of resawing-machines. intended for directinglumber into the rolls 65 15 It consists in adjustable rolls, means forof resawing-machines. Thishas usually been moving the rolls closertogether or farther done by hand at considerable costaud labor. apartfor accommodating lumber of different The results, in addition to thecost, have also thicknesses, and means for permitting them beenextremely poor, as it is very difficult to to fall apart to receive thelumber or to bring hold the lumber properly by hand when pass- 7o zothem into vertical position again to grip the ing it to aresawing-machine. By my invensame, all within easy control of operatorsof tion the lumber is taken automatically from the mechanism.delivery-chains and is then gripped in a man- It consists also in amachine having slides ner to accurately deliver the same in properadapted to move toward or away from each position for the action of thesaw of a resaw- 75 z5 other, levers connected with the said slides,ing-machine.

a reciprocating bar connected with the levers The construction of themachine embraces bymeans of toggle-levers, whereby upon mova centralsupporting-frame, as l, mounted ing the reciprocating bar the toggleswill, upon any suitable base and preferably lothrough the agency of thelevers, move the cated between inclined skids, as 2 2. The 8o 3o slidestoward or away from each other, and skids 2 may be arranged upon eitherside of lumber-gripping rolls mounted upon the said the frame l, and Ipreferably locate skids slides for engaging and properly directing uponboth sides of the machine, so that lumlumber. `ber can be delivered toit from either side, as

My invention further consists in a frame may be required. The skids 2preferably 85 35 supporting transversely-moving slides, pivcompriseinclined frames having sprocket or oted frames carried by the slides,lumberbelt wheels, as 3 3, located at their ends and gripping rollsmounted on said frames, shafts supporting sprocket chains or belts 4t 4.The extending longitudinally of the frames and belts are soactuated thatthe portions which mounted in the said slides, means connecting travelalong the tops of the skids l2 move to- 9o 4o the shafts with thepivoted roller-frames, and ward the center of the machine, carrying withmeans for rotating the said shafts, whereby them lumber, which may bedeposited upon the roller-frames and rolls may be brought them near thelower outer ends of the skids. into a vertical position for gripping anddi- AS seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings,there should recting the lumber.be at least two skid-frames upon each side of 95 45 It also consists incertain other novel conthe machine, although of course there maystructions, combinations, and arrangements be agreater number of themwithout departof parts, as will be hereinafter fully described ing fromthe spirit of the invention or withand speciiically claimed. outchanging the operation of the device.

In the drawings forming a portion of this The frame l, mounted betweenthe skids, is roo 5o specification, Figure l represents an endeleprovided at each end with a guideway or vation of my improvedlumber-directing matrack, as 5, and upon the tracks 5 are adapted tomove inclosing slides 6 6. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawings, the slide 6 may be composed of a single piece of metal bentover at its upper and lower edges so as to inclose the upper and loweredges of the tracks or ways 5, but may be of any other .suitable designwithin the scope of the invention. The slides 6 are made sufficientlyshort, so that two can be mounted upon the end frames and in such amanner that they will have considerable play and may be moved back andforth toward each other. These slides support lumber-gripping rolls, aswill be hereinafter more fully described. Pivotally mounted centrally ofthe frame 1 are le'- vers 7 7, which preferably cross each other attheir pivotal point 8. The levers may be strengthened in their positionat this point by'bracing, as 9, arranged transversely of the frame 1.The outer ends of the levers 7 7 are connected, by means of links 10 10,with the slides 6 6. It is preferable to connect the end of the lever 7upon one side of the frame with the slide at that end of the machinewhich is upon the opposite side of the frame, so that the links 10 10cross each other. At a suitable point either side of the central pivot 8the levers 7 7 are connected, by means of toggles 11 11,with acentrally-arranged longitudinally-reciprocating bar 12. The bar 12isi-adapted to move back and forth through openings or bearings formedin the frame 1. The toggles so connect the levers 7 7 with the said barthat when the bar is reciprocated it will draw the ends of the leverstoward each other or separate them from each other, thus moving theslides back and forth. One end of the reciprocating bar 12 is connected,by means of a link 13 or otherwise, with the end of an adjusting-lever14. The lever 14 is fulcrumed upon the top of a standard 15, themovement of the said lever being gaged and regulated by a segmental rack16,`secured to the top of said standard. By operating the handle orlever 14 the bar 12 may be reciprocated and the slides at each end ofthe frame be simultaneously brought to-a suitable distance from eachother for causing the rollers carried by the said slides to grip lumberplaced between them.

The frame 1 is provided at each end withfa transversely-arrangedhorizontal roller 17 17, adapted to support the lumber as it passes tothe resawing-machine. These rollers are preferably pivoted betweenupwardly-extending standards or lugs 18, secured to thefralne 1. Therollers 17 are ypreferably located upon the outer sides of the endframing, so as to not interfere with the adjustable grippingrolls on theinner side of the said framing.

Pivotally secured to each of the slides 6 6 is a frame or bracket 19.The said brackets overhang at the top and bottom the ends of thegripping-rolls`20 20. The frames 19 19 are pivoted to the slides attheir lower ends and are provided with outwardly-extending arms 21 21,which are connected by means of yated by any suitable means.

links 22 with arms 23 and 24, rigidly secured to longitudinally-arrangedshafts 25 25. The shafts 25 25 are arranged upon each side of the frame1 and are journaled at their ends in the moving slides 6 6. By partiallyrotating the shafts 25 25 the roller-frames 19 19 'may be moved back andforth upon their pivotal points. In this way the upper ends of the rolls2O 2O may be caused to fall apart sufficient-ly to readily receive thelumber traveling upward upon the chains or belts 4 4. In order fo bringthe gripping-rolls 2O 2O into a vertical position for gripping thelumber, the arms 24 24 at one end of the machine are formed with levers26 26, which extend toward the central line of the machine and areconnected by means of links 27 27 with the upper end of the piston-rod28. The pistonrod 28 extends into a cylinder 29 and is secured to asuitable piston-head moving therein. The cylinder 29 is a power-cylinderadapted to receive suitable pressure, as steam, compressed air, or thelike, the said pressure being delivered to the cylinder through avalvechamber, as 30, which is connected by piping 31 with a suitablesource for supplying such pressure. The valve in the chest 30 isconnected with a foot-operated lever 32. The lever 32 is fulcrumed toany suitable support-as, for instance, a standard 15, which carries thelever 14. By placing the foot upon the lever 32 steam or other pressurecan he admitted to the cylinder 29, so as to force the piston thereinand the rod 28 downwardly, thereby pulling vthe levers 26 26 downwardlyand rotating the shafts 25 25 in such a manner as to force thegripping-rolls 2O into their vertical positions. When the foot isremoved from the lever 32, the pressure will be cut off from thecylinder 29, and the rolls and the frames carrying them 'will fall apartof their ownY weight, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

It is desirable to actuate one or more of the feed-rolls so as to movethe lumber along between the said rolls and toward the resawingmachine.For this purpose I preferably eX- tend a shaft from the pivotal bearingsof one of the roll-frames 19 at one end of the machine to acorresponding one at the other end of the machine, as at 33. Upon theshaft 33 is rigidly fastened a belt-pulley 34, of any suitableconstruction, which is connected by means of a belt 35 with abelt-pulley 36. The belt-pulley 36 is carried by a shaft 37, journaledin one of the skids 2, said shaft having secured to it a sprocket-wheel38,`

which is arranged in a slot formed in the skid 2, so that the teeth ofsaid sprocket-wheel 38 will project sufficiently above the skid 2 toengage the links of one of the sprocketchains 4. The sprocketchains 4are actu- (Not shown.) The sprocket-wheel 38 will thus be actuated bythe sprocket-chain 4 and will communicate-motion through the pulley 36and belt 35 to the pulley 34 and shaft 33. One end of the shaft 33carries the beveled gear 39, which roo IIO

IIS

meshes with a corresponding beveled gear 40, secured to or formed uponthe lower end of one of the rolls 20. Thus by rotating the shaft 33 theroll 20 will be actuated, so as to feed the lumber through the machine.Inasmuch as the slides 6, which carry the shaft 33, are removable andadjustable it is necessary to employ some device to keep the belt 35 atall times taut. l mount upon the belt a tightening device consisting ofa frame 4l, containing double rolls or spools 42 43, free to ride uponsaid belt, one spool, 42, resting nupon the upper plane of the belt andthe other spool, 43, resting upon the lower plane thereof. To the lowerbar of the connectingframe of said tightening device is secured a cordor other lieXible means 44, which passes over a pulley 45 and supports aweight 46 at its lower end. The arrangement of the parts is such thatthe weight 46 will tend to cause the pulleys 43 to exert a tighteningpressure upon the belt 35, no matter what the position of the slide 6.The automatic tightening of the belt may, however, be accomplished byany suitable and desirable means.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the gripping-rollsare susceptible of two adjustments and that they may be separated attheir upper ends to easily receive the lumber delivered to them, andthat they may be immediately brought into a vertical position forgripping the lumber, and also that by moving the slides 6 6 they may beadjusted to accommodate lumber of different thicknesses. Theseadjustments can be accomplished very quickly, so that the rolls can bealmost instantly adjusted for every piece of lumber received by them andcan be made to rigidly and firmly hold'the same, so as to deliver ittruly to the saw of the resawingmachine. It will be apparent, of course,that I might employ other means besides the power-cylinder 29 fordepressing the arms 26 and closing the pressure-rolls 20 2O withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. rlhe power-cylinder,however, affords a simple, quick, and effective means for accomplishingthe purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A machine for delivering lumber to resawing-machines, comprising aframe, gripping-rolls mounted thereon, movable means for carrying thesame, means for adjusting them to diiferent widths, and means forpermitting them to fall apart to receive lumber and for forcing themtogether to grip the same.

2. A machine for delivering lumber for resawing, comprising a frame,slides moving thereon, rolls carried by the said slides, leversconnected with the slides, toggles interposed between the ends of thesaid levers, a reciprocating bar connected with the said toggles foroperating them, and means for reciprocating the bar, whereby the slidescarrying the gripping-rolls may be adjusted to accommodate differentthicknesses of lumber.

3. A machine for delivering lumber forresawing,comprisingaframe,transverselymoving slides mounted thereon,pivoted frames secured to the slides, gripping-rolls carried by the saidframes, means for adjusting the slides to accommodate the thickness ofthe lumber, and means for moving the roll-carrying frames upon theirpivot-points, so that they may be thro wn apart to receive the same andbrought together to grip it.

4. A lumber-handling machine comprising a frame, slides moving thereon,cross-levers pivoted upon the frame and connected with the slides attheir outer ends, a reciprocating bar moving in the frame, togglesconnecting the cross-levers with the said bar, means for reciprocatingthe bar, whereby the crossed levers will be caused to draw the slidescloser together or force them farther apart, and gripping-rolls carriedby the said slides for engaging the lumber to be handled.

5. A lumber-handling machine comprising a frame having ways or tracksarranged at each end, slides adapted to move upon the said tracks,levers pivotally connected by means of links with the said slides, thesaid levers crossing each other and being fulcrumed near their centralpoints, areciproeating bar moving in the frame, .toggle-leversconnecting the bar with the ends of the said crossed levers, a leverconnected with the said bar and mounted upon a suitable standard, asegment carried by the standard for holding the lever in adjustedpositions, and gripping-rolls mounted upon the slides, the structurebeing such that by moving the handlever upon its segment the crossedlevers will be so actuated as to adjust the slides closer together orfarther apart, substantially as described.

6. A lumber-handling machine comprising a frame, horizontalsupporting-rolls mounted upon each end thereof, slides moving upon theends of the frame transversely thereof, means for adjusting them withrespect to each other, pivoted frames mounted upon the said slides,gripping rolls secured in the said frames, shafts mounted upon theslides and connected with the pivoted frames,and means for rotating theshafts, whereby the pivoted frames may be moved so as to spread thegripping-rolls apart above the pivotal points of their respective framesfor receiving lumber or for drawing them together to grip the same.

7. A lumber-handling machine comprising a frame, slides mounted thereon,pivoted frames mounted upon the slides, grippingrolls carried by thesaid frames, shafts arranged longitudinally of the frames, and journaledat their ends in the slides, arms upon the said shafts connected bylinks with arms on said pivoted frames, actuating arms mounted upon theshafts, and means for ac- ICO IIO

tuating them, whereby the shafts may be rol wheel carried by the saidcounter-shaft and tated so as to move the pivoted frames back and forth,and means for adjusting the slides upon the frames so that thegripping-rolls will accommodate themselves to different thicknesses oflumber, substantially as described.

8. Alumber-delivering machine comprising a frame, movable slides mountedthereon, frames pivoted to the said slides, grippingrolls carriedthereby, means for adjusting the slides so that the rolls will be nearertogetherl or farther apart, means for rocking the pivoted frames so thattheir upper ends will fall apart to receive the lumber, skids arrangedupon each side of the frame and having traveling belts adapted todeliver the lumber between the gripping-rolls when they are separated,and means for actuating one of the gripping-rolls to feed the lumberthrough the machine, substantially as described.

9. A lumber-delivering machine comprising a frame, gripping-rollsadjustably mounted thereon, means for spreading the rolls apart toreceive the lumber and for drawing them together to grip the same, skidsmounted upon` each side of the frame and having lumberdelivering chainsmoving thereon, a shaft journaled upon the slides carrying thegripping-rolls, a beveled gear upon the said shaft, and a beveled gearupon one of the rollers for engaging the same, a pulley secured to theshaft, a pulley Secured to a counter-shaft mounted upon one of theskids, a sprocketengaging one of the lumber-carrying chains, a beltconnecting the pulley on the countershaft with the roll-actuatingpulley, and means for tightening the said belt, comprising pulleysengaging or riding upon the same, and a' weight for exerting a pressureupon them, the structure being such that the belt will be held taut nomatter what the adjusted position of the gripping-rolls, substantiallyas described.

l0. A lu mber-delivering machine comprising a frame provided withslideways or tracks', roll-carrying slides mounted thereon, means foradjusting the slides with respect to each other, pivoted frames carriedby the slides, gripping-rolls mounted in the said frames, shafts mountedupon the slides and connected with the pivoted frames, arms upon thesaid shafts, a piston-rod connected With the said arms and extendinginto a power-cylinder, and means for delivering power to the saidcylinder for operating a piston therein and thereby moving thepiston-rod, whereby the gripping-rolls after they have received thelumber may be forced together to grip the same, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN C. MELBY.

Witnesses:

l J. K. OLSON,

A. H. WILKINSON.

